The Irish Chamber Orchestra has confirmed an eclectic new season with an over-arching theme of Shared Spaces which runs throughout the upcoming year.
As a collaborative ensemble, we welcome guests to our home space, fusing our music with other genres sharing our space, across seasonal offerings. Collectively, we delight in sharing these spaces with audiences countrywide and beyond.
On 12th and 13th of September, a Mozart Homage directed by Katherine Hunka will thrill audiences at UCH, Limerick and at Dr. Mary Strangman Room, City Hall, Waterford (in association with Symphony Club of Waterford & Waterford Music). A light and airy Divertimento K.136 demonstrates Mozart’s youthful brilliance. Schnittke’s nods to both Mozart and Haydn in Moz-Art à la Haydn will amaze with its extraordinary virtuosity, fun and flair. Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, his much-loved tribute to Mozart will seduce and set hearts racing.
It’s all about love in October as Jörg Widmann champions Schumann. Hearts will spin at his Overture, Scherzo, and Finale inspired by his marriage. Be profoundly moved by Widmann’s slow and evocative Chorale Quartet, stark and beautiful, as it delves into the most intimate of sound worlds. Finally, feel the joy and exhilaration of Schumann’s infectious Spring Symphony at UCH, Limerick on Saturday 5 October.
We join forces with Chamber Choir Ireland under the baton of Artistic Partner, Thomas Zehetmair who continues to journey with Mozart. Prepare for a roller-coaster as we perform Mozart’s emotionally charged Requiem. A fabulous line-up of soloists includes Ailish Tynan, Soprano Carolyn Holt, Mezzo Soprano Robin Tritschler tenor and Padraic Rowan bass. This epic, full of drama, hope and redemption will melt hearts as the dying Mozart wills his final work to life. The concert showcases Blood, a world premiere by David Fennessy on Sunday 17 November at 4pm the Whyte Recital Hall, RIAM, Dublin.
We visit Berlin with the Requiem on Saturday 23 November, as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24, an initiative of Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Germany. On Sunday 24 November, we reunite with Singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh for Róisín Reimagined, an exciting performance that pairs Muireann’s peerless vocals with fresh orchestral arrangements of sean nós songs, directed by pianist, Cormac McCarthy. Both performances take place at Elisabeth Church, Berlin.
Katherine Hunka leads us in our first collaboration with Irish Youth Training Choir under Choral Director Patrick Barrett for a Choral Christmas extravaganza. Extracts from Britten’s ever popular Ceremony of Carols, interspersed with his Simple Symphony, will enchant audiences. Torelli’s lively Christmas Concerto brings us back in time followed by Mozart’s sublime Ave Verum Corpus, an all-time classic. Feel the fragility of Warlock’s enchanting dance music in his Capriol Suite. An amalgam of popular carols old and new will ignite spirits at this ICO Christmas cracker at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Bridge, St. Limerick, and Whyte Recital Hall, RIAM, Dublin on 13 and 14 December.
What can you look forward to?
September
Irish Chamber Orchestra Katherine Hunka Director/Violin
MOZART HOMAGE
Mozart Divertimento K.136 (125a), D major
Schnittke Moz-Art à la Haydn Katherine Hunka
Tchaikovsky Serenade for strings, Op.48, C major
Thursday 12 September University Concert Hall @7.30pm Tickets: €30, €25, €10, €5
Friday 13 September Dr. Mary Strangman Room, City Hall, Waterford @7.30pm €25, €12.50 (u18s) (in association with Waterford Music & Symphony Club of Waterford)
October
Irish Chamber Orchestra Jörg Widmann Conductor
SCHUMANN THE ROMANTIC
Schumann Overture, Scherzo, & Finale, in E major, Op.52
Widmann Chorale Quartet
Schumann: Symphony No.1, Op.38, B-flat major Spring
Saturday 5 October University Concert Hall, Limerick @7.30pm Tickets: €30, €25, €10, €5
November
Irish Chamber Orchestra & Chamber Choir Ireland
Thomas Zehetmair Conductor Ailish Tynan, Soprano Carolyn Holt, Mezzo Soprano Robin Tritschler, Tenor Padraic Rowan Bass
MOZART REQUIEM
David Fennessy World Premiere
Mozart Requiem, K.626
Sunday 17 November Whyte Recital Hall, RIAM, Dublin @4.00pm €30, €25, €10, €5
Saturday 23 November St. Elisabeth Church, Berlin @7.30pm
Irish Chamber Orchestra & Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Vocals Cormac McCarthy Piano
RÓISĺN REIMAGINED
Sunday 24 November Elizabeth Church, Berlin @7.30pm
December
Irish Chamber Orchestra & Irish Youth Training Choir
Patrick Barrett Choir Director Katherine Hunka Director Violin
A CHORAL CHRISTMAS
Britten A Ceremony of Carols Hodie
Torelli Christmas Concerto
Britten Boisterous Bouree / Sentimental Sarabande Simple Symphony
Britten A Ceremony of Carols Balulalow & This little Babe
Mozart Ave Verum Corpus, K.618 strings
Warlock Capriol Suite strings
Leontovych Carol of the Bells
Hopkins (arr. Higgins) We Three Kings
Whitacre Glow
Higgins Still, Still, Still
Wade O Come all ye Faithful
Gruber/Mohr Silent Night
Friday 13 December St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick 1pm and 7.30pm €30, €25, €10, €5
Saturday 14 December Whyte Recital Hall, RIAM, Dublin @4.00pm €30, €25, €10, €5
*The Irish Chamber Orchestra is Ireland’s national chamber orchestra ibased at the University of Limerick home and is funded by The Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.